"Bare-Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) Signs Former UFC Champ Eddie Alvarez for Debut Match

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) has recently announced that former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez has signed with the promotion and will be facing Chad Mendes at BKFC 41. This is a significant event for Alvarez, who is excited to make his bare-knuckle debut after almost two years out of the ring. In an interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Alvarez shared his enthusiasm for this new chapter in his career, stating that “Everything’s different about it, and it gets me excited.”

Alvarez also discussed what drew him to BKFC, explaining that it reminded him of his younger days before becoming a professional fighter. He shared his experience of street fights where “fights got figured out pretty quickly,” and BKFC reminded him of that. He believes that without gloves, fights are more “real” and are “figured out pretty quickly.” This new element of the sport against a worthy opponent, Chad Mendes, has excited Alvarez, who believes that “it’s about as real as it gets.”

Despite his excitement about BKFC, Alvarez emphasized that he is not done with MMA and intends to fight in the cage again. However, his deal with BKFC provides him with the flexibility to pursue other matchups outside of the promotion while also giving him the opportunity to work with BKFC founder Dave Feldman. Alvarez shared that he and Feldman are working closely together to figure out what they can do after the fight to move forward, not just for Alvarez but also to help move the promotion forward.

Alvarez is already preparing for his debut, including special training for his wrists and forearms, and practicing fighting one-handed in case he breaks a hand while punching. He is confident that he will knock Chad Mendes out and stated that “there’s not a single man on this card who is going to be able to take that.”

Overall, Alvarez’s move to BKFC has reignited his passion for fighting and given him a new opportunity to showcase his skills. His enthusiasm and confidence for his debut have undoubtedly raised expectations for this event, and fans can’t wait to see what the former UFC champion can bring to the table.